Navigating the Pharmacy Undergraduate Degree Curriculum: A Comprehensive Guide
The path to becoming a licensed pharmacist is a rigorous yet rewarding journey. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the pharmacy undergraduate degree curriculum, encompassing various program structures, key components, and essential considerations.
Program Structure and Degree Options
Pharmacy education typically involves a combination of pre-professional and professional coursework. A common structure is a two-year pre-pharmacy program followed by a four-year professional program.
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Pharmacy Studies: Some programs offer a B.S. in Pharmacy Studies after the completion of pre-professional requirements and the first two years of the professional program. This degree can serve as a stepping stone to the Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) program. The B.S./Pharm.D. are consecutive degrees. Students must earn the B.S. in Pharmacy Studies before entry into the last two years of the professional program.
Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.): The Pharm.D. is a professional doctoral degree that prepares graduates for licensure and practice as pharmacists. This professional B.S./Pharm.D. program is a full-time professional program (146 minimum credits professional program plus 64 credits pre-professional for a minimum total of 210 credits), making the Pharm.D. graduate eligible to stand for licensure upon completion. It is awarded as a post-baccalaureate/professional degree after the conferral of the B.S. in Pharmacy Studies and successful completion of the Pharm.D. requirements.
Dual Degree Programs: For students seeking specialized expertise, dual degree programs offer the opportunity to combine pharmacy education with another field.
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- Pharm.D./Ph.D.: This program targets highly motivated students who seek to combine pharmacy education suitable for professional licensure with advanced research-based training in the pharmaceutical sciences. Students completing this program will earn consecutive dual degrees, the Pharm.D. and the Ph.D. Students in the dual track are afforded early acceptance into the Ph.D. program and, if they successfully complete the Pharm.D. curriculum, a modified graduate curriculum will be tailored to shorten the total time required to complete the Ph.D. degree. Students must meet the admission requirements of both programs and apply to the Ph.D. program in the summer semester before their P2 (second professional) year as they complete the B.S.
- Pharm.D./MPH: A dual degree Pharm.D./MPH program is offered to highly motivated students who seek to combine pharmacy education with special skills in public health as it relates to pharmacotherapy and health promotion, disease prevention and medication safety. After completing the second professional year and graduating with the B.S. in Pharmacy Studies, students enroll in the MPH program for the third year. Students then return to the School of Pharmacy for the remaining two post-baccalaureate/professional years of the Pharm.D. program, which would consist of both pharmacy and public health courses. Students must meet the admission requirements of both programs and apply to the MPH program in the spring semester of the P2 (second professional) year as they complete the B.S. in Pharmacy Studies.
Curriculum Components
The pharmacy curriculum is designed to provide a strong foundation in pharmaceutical sciences, pharmacy practice, and patient care. The curriculum will be driven by these principles: Pharmaceutical and clinical sciences will be integrated throughout the curriculum with the goal of instilling in our graduates the need for the continuation of both basic and clinical science knowledge throughout their careers. Faculty will endeavor to deliver the curriculum to students using the most effective means possible and will strive to incorporate new, effective approaches to teaching, learning, and assessment. The curriculum will develop valuable members of the interprofessional healthcare team. The Pharmacist Patient Care Process (PPCP) is embedded in the curriculum to prepare students to diagnose and resolve drug-related problems in diverse patient populations. The curriculum will provide students elective opportunities that enable them to individualize their education by exploring areas of interest and differentiating themselves from their peers upon graduation. Students will be exposed to practice experiences based on the provision of pharmaceutical care. These Experiential Education opportunities begin upon entry into the curriculum and continue throughout the four years of the curriculum. Advanced practice experiences will be integrated into diverse practice environments where students will deliver and evaluate the outcomes of high-quality pharmaceutical care. The curriculum, faculty, and students will adhere to and uphold the principles within the Oath of a Pharmacist and the Pharmacist's Fundamental Responsibilities and Rights. The curriculum will be responsive to changes required based on input from faculty, students, accrediting bodies, stakeholders and alumni.
Pre-Professional Coursework: This typically includes courses in:
- General Chemistry (CHEM 1127Q General Chemistry I and CHEM 1128Q General Chemistry II)
- Organic Chemistry
- Biology
- Physics (PHYS 1201Q General Physics I)
- Calculus
- Biochemistry (MCB 2000 Introduction to Biochemistry)
- Humanities/Social Sciences
Professional Coursework: The professional program builds upon the pre-professional foundation with specialized courses such as:
Pharmaceutical Sciences:
- Medicinal Chemistry (PHRD 5920Medicinal Chemistry)
- Pharmaceutics (PHRD 5925Pharmaceutics)
- Pharmacology & Toxicology (PHRD 5935Pharmacology & Toxicology)
- Clinical Pharmacokinetics (PHRD 6015Clinical Pharmacokinetics)
- Pharmacogenomics (PHRD 7025Pharmacogenomics)
Pharmacy Practice:
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- Pharmacy Practice Fundamentals & Drug Information (PHRD 5055Pharmacy Practice Fundamentals & Drug Information)
- Self-Care and Nonprescription Medications (PHRD 5075Self-Care and Nonprescription Medications)
- Patient-Centered Communication (PHRD 5965Patient-Centered Communication)
- Pharmacy Law and Regulatory Standards (PHRD 7945 Pharmacy Law and Regulatory Standards)
- Pharmacy Management (PHRD 7055Pharmacy Management)
Pharmacotherapy: A multi-course series that integrates pathophysiology, pharmacology, and therapeutics for various disease states. (PHRD 5985Pharmacotherapy 1, PHRD 6085Pharmacotherapy 2, PHRD 6095Pharmacotherapy 3, PHRD 6985Pharmacotherapy 4, PHRD 6995Pharmacotherapy 5, PHRD 7085Pharmacotherapy 6, PHRD 7095Pharmacotherapy 7)
Experiential Education: A critical component of the pharmacy curriculum, experiential education provides students with hands-on experience in various pharmacy settings. Experiential courses comprise one-third of the pharmacy curriculum.
- Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experiences (IPPE): In both P2 and P3 Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experiences (IPPE) students develop knowledge, skills, and practice professional interactions in actual pharmacy settings. This includes rotations in community (PHRD 5010Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience (IPPE) Community) and health-system pharmacies (PHRD 6910Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience (IPPE) Health System). The P2 IPPE includes a semester-long rotation at a community pharmacy site and a semester-long rotation at a hospital/institutional site. The P2 community pharmacy rotation includes 13 longitudinal, weekly site visits on Fridays during one semester. The P2 hospital/institutional rotation includes a 40-hour immersion experience 1 week prior to the start of the semester followed by 13 longitudinal, weekly site visits on Fridays throughout the semester.
- Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences (APPE): The advanced practice experiences comprise the entire fourth (P4) year of the Doctor of Pharmacy curriculum. The year is divided into eight rotation blocks. Each block is six weeks long. Minimum APPE requirements include the completion of six, 6-week rotations consisting of 4 required core rotations and 2 elective rotations. Students must complete 240 hours at each rotation, for a total of 1,440 hours, to meet ACPE internship requirements. Students will have 2 off-blocks during the APPE year. APPEs consist of four required rotations (adult internal medicine, ambulatory care, community practice and hospital/health-system pharmacy) and two elective rotations. Students are placed in a 6-week, full-time (40 hours per week) patient care experience in which they can begin to apply their didactic knowledge. In this advanced IPPE students demonstrate competency to meet pre-APPE core performance domains and abilities.
Key Considerations for Pharmacy Students
- Accreditation: Ensure that the pharmacy program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE). The University of Connecticutâs Doctor of Pharmacy program has been granted full accreditation by The Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE). The Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education is recognized by the United States Department of Education as the national agency for accreditation of professional degree programs in pharmacy and continuing pharmacy education programs.
- Academic Standards: Maintain a strong academic record throughout the program. Students accepted into the professional PharmD program of the L.S. Skaggs College of Pharmacy will be permitted to progress to the next semester in the professional curriculum only when all of the required courses and assessment activities have been completed. Completion is defined to mean that a grade point average of C (2.0) or better must be maintained in required professional courses, as well as required courses outside the College. Any student receiving a grade of D in a required or elective course must successfully retake that course per the College's Course Remediation and Course Retake Policy.
- Communication Skills: Develop excellent written and oral communication skills. It is essential that Pharmacy students have excellent written and oral communication skills. Students must be able to communicate effectively with patients, physicians and with other members of the health care team.
- Technical Standards: Be able to meet the technical standards required for the program. The PharmD programmatic Technical standards are a set of physical, cognitive and behavioral skills that students must demonstrate to be effective pharmacists.
- Professionalism: Adhere to professional standards and ethics. Students enrolled in the programs of the L.S. Skaggs College of Pharmacy are expected to endorse professional standards by subscribing to the Oath of a Pharmacist.
- Intern Licensure: Obtain licensure as a pharmacy intern during the experiential phases of the program. All students are required to be licensed interns during all phases of the clinical program. A background check is required prior to intern registration.
- Technology Proficiency: Develop proficiency in using instructional technologies. You will quickly discover that our program relies heavily on instructional technologies because they enable us to teach, and for you to learn, more effectively. In your first year, you are required to start the program with an iPad and a laptop.
- Electives: Take advantage of elective courses to specialize in areas of interest. Students may select from two options for completing their elective coursework. Option I involves taking two semester credit hours of elective coursework in semesters 4, 5, and 6.
- Co-Curricular Activities: The PharmD Co-Curriculum is designed to provide our pharmacy students with real-world experiences that complement and advance what is learned through our didactic and experiential curriculum. Through participating in co-curricular events and activities throughout the four years of the program, students will learn to examine and reflect on personal knowledge, skills, abilities, beliefs, attitudes, motivation, and emotions to enhance their personal and professional growth. Through the co-curriculum, students will participate in program orientations, entrustable professional activity self-assessments, professional community service, meetings and seminars, and professional events. Students will have opportunities to discuss their personal and professional growth through faculty advising.
Beyond the Pharm.D.: Career Avenues
Going beyond pharmacy, the Bachelors in Pharmaceutical Sciences sets up your career for a number of healthcare avenues and post-grad options. The Doctor of Pharmacy degree focuses on improving clinical outcomes and improving quality of life.
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